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MP urges Government to secure Kellingley's "long-term future"

West Yorkshire MP Yvette Cooper has urged the Government to work towards securing the long-term future of Kellingley Colliery instead of planning for its closure.

"We need a long term future for Kellingley, not just a closure plan", said the Labour MP for Normanton, Pontefract & Castleford.

"The Government needs to act because we're running out of time. Hargreaves may have pulled out of the deal, however we know that other investors are interested and Kellingley has increased production showing what a successful and profitable pit it can be.

"UK Coal and the Government need to work with all the investors and the workforce to get a new deal in place to keep the pit open for longer.

"Ministers said Government funding was available for the Hargreaves deal to close the pit in 2015. But being prepared to fund a closure plan isn't enough.

"They should be prepared to support a long term plan to keep Kellingley and Thoresby open too. That means looking at funding, but also working urgently with other investors and the workforce to build a long term plan.

"If they don't act fast it will be too late. Development work has already stopped and miners are being laid off - pushing up the costs of keeping the pit open and making it harder to get a new deal.

"UK Coal and the Government must not turn their backs when hundreds of local families are worried about the future and when men are already being laid off.”